Manchester Pride

2015 sees the 25th anniversary of Manchester Pride. Sort of.

It wasn't always called Pride - it has been known as GayFest, Mardi Gras and a few other names we won't go into. But the August Bank Holiday weekend gathering of LGBT communities and their supporters in and around the Gay Village has always been committed to one thing - the encouragement of equality.

Those used to the current incarnation of Pride - one of the biggest and loudest tourist attractions in our city's annual calendar - may find it hard to believe that it started out with a few decorating tables laid out on Canal Street with sundry donated books, clothes and ornaments available to buy, like an even camper than usual jumble sale. Such was the need then to raise all possible funds for the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Since then there have been massive leaps forward in LGBT equality but these rights were fought for over decades, and still don't exist in many parts of the world, and funds raised support many causes and organisations across the region, making Pride more than just a reason for a hangover, and ensuring that nobody here ever feels like they are the only gay in the Village.